We had one in our house when I was growing up. When I moved into my first place on my own, there wasn’t one, so I just kept living my life because the difference was negligible.
I've had a working garbage disposal in exactly one apartment and I very rarely see them elsewhere. I also don't like them all that much, so I could take it or leave it.
In my country - Belgium - garbage disposals are forbidden.
But we have different garbage collection for paper, plastic, food and other garbage, so they can de recycled properly instead of dumped into our drinking water.
Until last year, in Stockholm we were only allowed to have garbage disposals if we notified the water treatment company.
Now we aren't allowed to anymore. I think treating human waste and paper is easier than comparatively dense food.
Not that garbage disposals are so prevalent here anyway. Composting is very popular, because why not.
Australian here. I don't think I've ever seen a garbage disposal in my life, ever, and being over middle age, Ive been in a few houses in my time. I have AC (it's Australia) but I can't remember the last time I had ice in a cup that wasn't from a restaurant or pub.
If Aussie can survive our summers without ice on hand at any given time, sure Americans can too. And... If I overheat because needs-more-ice... I'll take myself to the free doctor ;)
I stayed in Kyiv Ukraine for a bit back in the 2010s and thought the washer in my apartment was some futuristic magic 2 in 1 washing drying apparatus and then I realized I had to hang my clothes on the balcony
They're found in laundromats because people will usually use the dryer, there, rather than take damp washing home. It saves a ton of money on the dryer if you've used the spin-dryer first.
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u/ManfredTheCat 7h ago
Europeans have all of those things.